04Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Portugal amber listed: Government must give clarity on international travel

Portugal amber listed: Government must give clarity on international travel

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Portugal has been moved from green to amber on the traffic light system for international travel, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, commented: "This will come as a huge blow both to British citizens keen to get away on a foreign holiday after an incredibly difficult 15 months, and to the travel industry. However, given the immense sacrifices made by all during the pandemic, and with rising case numbers, we must maintain caution so as not to threaten the progress we have made with our domestic reopening. "In order to keep case numbers as low as possible and prevent the spread of new variants, the Government needs to keep robust measures in place at our borders, combined with a rigorous test and trace…
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08Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Government must give UK business time to adjust

Davey: Government must give UK business time to adjust

Parliamentary news
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today written to the Prime Minister calling on him to negotiate an adjustment period for British business of three to six months regardless of what happens with the trade deal negotiations with the EU. In the letter, Ed Davey warns the coronavirus crisis has already put British business under extraordinary pressure and any move which pushes them to a cliff edge on the 1st of January will create another wave of redundancies and misery for communities across the UK. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “With only three and a half weeks until the end of the transition period, Boris Johnson still has a the opportunity to give businesses a chance to survive January if he can successfully negotiate…
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12Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Wasting money on Britain’s borders just more incompetence from Johnson’s Government

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement of the Government's funding to help manage Britain's borders, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Tories’ handling of their own policy of Brexit is fast becoming as shambolic as their handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The sheer incompetence, waste of taxpayers’ money, and continual deception of the public must make this Government the worst in living memory. "The fact that even government ministers are warning about the disastrous consequences of their own border plans, not only shows how bad things are, but that there never was an 'oven ready' Brexit. "Ministers full attention should be on containing the spread of the virus and getting our society back to normal, yet they are wasting hundreds of millions on new border infrastructure. “Boris Johnson’s…
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12Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must not jeopardise economic recovery with threat of no-deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics out today that show the UK's economy shrank by 20.4% in April, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “We face the most serious economic challenge in generations. This is not a time to exit the world’s largest market. This is not a time to increase trade barriers. This is not a time to deny business skills they need with a damaging new immigration system. “Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case for a Green Recovery Plan and policies that back responsible businesses. “We can create jobs and protect the environment by investing in new, green technologies but we need imaginative new policies and strong political leadership. “The Prime Minister should not be putting Britain’s chances for an economic recovery…
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14May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government misled businesses over post-Brexit customs checks

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's admission that there will be customs checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea after the Brexit transition period ends, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Johnson’s Government has failed to give businesses much needed clarity on this issue. It now seems Johnson was deeply dishonest with businesses when he previously asserted there would be no checks and businesses could put paperwork “in the bin”. "His Brexit deal will mean extra costs and bureaucracy for businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, at a time when many are already struggling with the impact of coronavirus. "Liberal Democrats will continue to call on the Conservative Government to do the right thing and protect UK businesses. As part of this, it is vital the…
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